carnival sunshine cruise critic

Carnival Sunshine cruise ship review: What it’s like to cruise on Carnival’s oldest ship

TPG's Kristy Tolley accepted a free trip from Carnival Cruise Line to cruise on Carnival Sunshine. The opinions expressed below are entirely hers and weren't subject to review by the line.

Sometimes it's hard to beat an oldie but a goodie, and that's certainly the case with Carnival Sunshine.

Carnival's oldest ship and part of the line's Sunshine Class of reimagined vessels, Carnival Sunshine has the "Fun Ship 2.0" upgrades that bring it in line with newer Carnival ships. Modern amenities and an unpretentious environment dovetail nicely aboard Sunshine, and the updated restaurants, bars and public spaces make you feel like you're on a modern cruise ship.

Sure, you'll spot signs of wear and tear befitting an older ship, but the dings in my cabin furnishings were easy to overlook.

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I'm not the only one who appreciates this made-over ship. On my second sailing on Sunshine, a four-night Bahamas cruise out of Charleston, I found myself surrounded by a diverse group, though most passengers hailed from South Carolina. My shipmates included lots of families, couples traveling together and multigenerational reunion groups.

The common denominator among passengers was that everyone was ready to celebrate something. On embarkation day, I saw an almost endless sea of matching shirts announcing milestone birthdays, bachelorette parties and other special events. The overall vibe — which continued throughout the cruise — was energetic and festive, and most people didn't take themselves too seriously. It was clear from the moment we stepped on the ship that if you didn't have a fun time, it was entirely your fault.

Carnival Sunshine is a great home base for a celebratory vacation (or any kind of getaway, really) that doesn't break the bank, especially if you live within driving distance of one of its departure ports. Some four-night sailings start as low as $374 per person (based on double occupancy) for a four-night getaway. You'd be hard-pressed to spend less with a hotel stay of the same length — not to mention the extra cost of food you don't have to worry about with a cruise.

Even if you don't have a milestone event to celebrate, Carnival Sunshine provides such a perfect backdrop for your fun that your vacation will feel like a celebration.

Overview of Carnival Sunshine

The 102,853-ton Carnival Sunshine is 12 decks high and carries 3,002 passengers at double occupancy in 1,501 cabins.

Launched in 1996 as Carnival Destiny, the ship received an overhaul and a new name in 2013. The glow-up brought added attractions and venues found on newer Carnival vessels. These upgrades included a complete renovation of Sunshine's pool area and the addition of a full-blown water park, a SportSquare area on the top deck, and an adults-only Serenity outdoor lounge area complete with daybeds, padded loungers, a hot tub and a full bar.

Carnival Sunshine also acquired new food and beverage venues like the line's signature steakhouse, Fahrenheit 555; its signature Italian eatery, Cucina Del Capitano; and an express Bonsai Sushi. The line also added 182 cabins, bumping its capacity at double occupancy from 2,642 to 3,002 passengers, a 14% increase.

At nearly 103,000 tons, Sunshine Class ships are more than 40% smaller than Carnival's newest ships, such as Carnival Celebration. That said, Carnival Sunshine still offers a solid list of onboard diversions, from a multi-slide water park to a theater showing original musical productions.

The ship's age is starting to show, with a few nicks and marks here and there and visible rust spots on the exterior. The need for a fresh coat of paint was more prominent when we were docked beside two newer Royal Caribbean ships in Nassau — so much so that the comedian referenced it in his show that night. It didn't detract from our cruise, but those seeking a new shiny ship should look elsewhere.

Carnival Sunshine has been based in Charleston, South Carolina, since 2019, but 2024 will be the last year the ship will depart from the Holy City. It's moving a bit farther up the East Coast to Norfolk, Virginia, beginning in February 2025.

What I loved about Carnival Sunshine

The festive atmosphere

Carnival wears its "fun ship" moniker well. The line's focus on having a great time is infused in every aspect of your cruise experience, and guests are an extension of that ethos. Every passenger I encountered was friendly and ready to participate in all the activities the Fun Squad had planned.

Karaoke was hugely popular during our cruise. There was always a line of people ready to perform, and the Ocean Plaza area where it took place was teeming with crowds cheering them on. Audience members would often get up and dance to the music or sing along.

Loads of people consistently came out for music trivia at the Sunshine Bar in the Atrium, too. It's hard not to have a good time when your enthusiastic cruise director stands on top of the bar and encourages everyone to join in.

From Noel, our amenable room steward, to Nicole and Tatiana, our capable Alchemy Bar mixologists, every staff member we interacted with was genuine, friendly and cheerful. We weren't their only fans. One passenger even had a T-shirt made featuring a photo of Nicole and Tatiana.

Although Carnival reduced cabin cleaning service to just once a day from twice a day in 2022, our room steward was always close by and checking in on us. Our cabin was well-kept and clean, and we had fresh towels when we needed them.

The crew's flexibility and impressive level of service really stood out on this sailing. For example, we went through a storm during our cruise, and rough seas altered the Welcome Aboard production on the first night. Instead of a musical and dance show, the two onboard comedians performed a short bit of their routine. At least 200 people came out for the show, and the audience was enthusiastic and supportive.

Similarly, since rough seas canceled the tech rehearsal, the "Epic Rock" production on the second night became an "unplugged" version with performers singing from stools on stage. While not ideal, it was another example of the flexibility and upbeat attitude of Carnival staff. Even without a full-on performance, the quality of vocal talent was undeniable.

Perhaps the most moving example of staff personalizing an experience for guests was during the military appreciation event, which is held every Carnival sailing and hosted by the cruise director. Traditionally, a recording of "Taps" is played during a moment of silence. Our cruise director, James, is also a trumpet player, so he plays "Taps" live for the ceremony.

I've sailed with Carnival on several occasions, and the food has always been great. Carnival Sunshine was no exception. I was able to sample most included and added-fee restaurants — including Asian favorites at JiJi's and Bonsai Sushi, and the poolside Guy's Burger Joint and BlueIguana Cantina (more below on each of these).

Carnival Sunshine offers a nice variety of cuisine, so all palates will be satisfied. You could enjoy a spicy chickpea curry dish or jambalaya, freshly prepared artisan deli sandwiches and wraps, or load up on salad fixings and fresh fruit.

The main dining room menu featured fresh seafood, varied pasta dishes (spaghetti carbonara, linguini with Italian sausage), steak and tempting desserts (the creme brulee and Carnival melting chocolate cake are a must).

The only downside is it can be challenging to hit every dining venue you want during a four-night cruise!

What I didn't love about Carnival Sunshine

Smoke in the casino.

Smoking can be a divisive issue on cruise ships, and it's banned nearly everywhere on board. However, it's permitted in the casino, which would be fine if I didn't have to pass through the casino to get to certain parts of the ship. But there was no way to avoid the smoky areas if I needed to get to the Liquid Lounge theater from the Ocean Plaza. I can only imagine how problematic that could be for those who are allergic to smoke.

That said, the casino was always buzzing and consistently teemed with passengers who either weren't bothered by the smoke or were willing to put up with it for a good game of blackjack.

Limited electrical outlets in cabins

If you've sailed on a newer Carnival ship with ample outlets and USB ports in your cabin, you might be surprised by the lack of them on Sunshine. Updating the number of electrical outlets and adding USB ports to the cabins was not part of the 2013 renovation.

The desk area had only two U.S.-style 110V plugs and a European-style 220V plug. The nightstands flanking the bed did not include outlets. If you need more outlets, plan to pack a power strip (just not one with a surge protector, as they're banned on ships ).

Carnival Sunshine cabins and suites

Our cabin was an aft (back of the ship) balcony cabin on Deck 5. I'd never stayed in an aft cabin, so I looked forward to having uninterrupted ocean views over the ship's wake. I particularly enjoyed our view as we plied through rough waters during a storm. It was a fantastic reminder of the strength and endurance of cruise ships.

Another perk of an aft cabin was the size of the balcony — a bit larger than regular balconies in other Carnival cabins I've stayed in. Traditional balconies have room for two chairs and a small table. Our aft balcony fit an additional lounger. As mentioned earlier, the ship shows signs of wear and tear, which was evident on our balcony. It desperately needed a good scrub to get rid of the dark spots and paint drippings.

I had heard that noise could be an issue for those staying in aft cabins. We were above the main dining room, and we could sometimes hear the music from the dinner entertainment. However, we never heard it after hours. Honestly, I didn't notice any more ship noise than on previous sailings in other cabins.

Also, other than the night of the storm, I didn't encounter any extensive rocking or shifting that was out of the ordinary for a cruise ship.

Overall, I was pleased with the cabin. It was basic, with neutral walls and blue patterned carpeting. No cutting-edge designs here, but I wouldn't expect that from an older ship. The bed was cozy, the pillows were soft, the room temperature remained comfortable, and I had ample storage for a long weekend's worth of clothing.

The wear and tear was also noticeable inside the room, including a few wall dings and a couple of nicks in the wood furnishings. Also, one of the hangers seemed to have been repaired with duct tape.

My room had two twin beds pushed together into a queen-size bed that was flanked by bedside lamps and two one-drawer, one-shelf nightstands. The living area had a long sofa that could transform into a bed or the bottom half of bunk beds. In place of a traditional shorter coffee table, there was a taller wooden table that could double as a makeshift working desk.

A large desk/vanity with a lighted mirror and flat-screen TV was on the opposite wall. It housed four drawers (one containing a small hair dryer for in-cabin use), a minifridge, and a cabinet with a small safe. Three side-by-side closets were positioned to the right of the desk.

Our cabin's TV was installed on the wall to the left of the desk mirror. Unfortunately, the wall came out a bit to the left of the TV, which made it impossible to swivel the TV to the left and view it from the bed. The TV wasn't interactive like most are on newer ships. It had about 10 channels of news, movies and children's programming, and several Carnival-sponsored channels.

The bathroom was small but adequate. There were two shelves on both sides of the mirror for toiletry storage and a decent amount of counter space for such a small area. The shower included pump dispensers for shampoo and body wash, as well as a retractable clothesline for drying swimwear.

There were ample towel racks and three hooks on the back of the door. The bathroom was stocked with bath and hand towels, washcloths and a bar of soap.

Most of the accommodations on Carnival Sunshine fall into one of three categories: windowless inside cabins, ocean-view cabins with a window that doesn't open and balcony cabins. Carnival Sunshine offers more than 200 connecting rooms, ideal for large families or groups traveling together who like to stay close.

Spa lovers can stay in one of the 92 Cloud 9 Spa cabins and three spa suites with direct access to the spa. They also score exclusive spa packages and discounts, unlimited use of the Thermal Suite, a free body composition analysis and upgraded Elemis toiletries in their cabin.

If you want to splurge and book a suite on Carnival Sunshine, you have 58 options across four categories — Ocean Suites (45), Grand Suites (8), Captain's Suites (2) and the aforementioned Cloud 9 Spa Suites (3). Ocean Suites are akin to junior suites, expanded versions of balcony cabins.

The suites come with varied perks, which can include priority check-in and boarding, as well as priority disembarkation on the final morning of your trip.

Carnival Sunshine restaurants and bars

Carnival Sunshine offers a bevy of restaurant and bar choices. It offers a good mix of included-in-your-fare and extra-fee options, and overall, I enjoyed all my meals on board. If you want to try one of the ship's specialty restaurants, make reservations as soon as possible, as they tend to book up quickly.

Restaurants

Carnival Sunshine has two main dining rooms — Sunrise Dining Room (decks 3 and 4) and Sunset Dining Room (Deck 3). You can choose fixed-time, assigned table seating at 5:30 p.m. (early dining) or 7:45 p.m. (late dining). If you know you want to eat at either of those designated times, you should reserve when you book, as they fill up fast.

We opted for Your Time Dining, so we could dine any time between 5:15 and 9 p.m. When we were ready for dinner, we checked in through Carnival's mobile app and received an alert when our table was ready. From check-in to being seated, we only had about a 10-minute wait on both evenings. All Your Time Dining folks dine in the Sunrise Dining Room.

We enjoyed both main dining room meals, which included prime rib, lobster tail, New York strip and pan-seared barramundi. I especially enjoyed the beet and petite greens salad with a citrus dressing. Of course, when on a Carnival ship, you must try the line's signature melting chocolate cake, which I did, and it was perfection.

Don't miss the Seaday Brunch, with top-notch eggs Benedict, French toast, made-to-order omelets, brunch burgers and bloody marys. I splurged on a fresh pressed juice ($5) with pineapple, ginger, lime, dates and turmeric. It was fantastic. The main dining room is also open for breakfast on port days.

Guy's Burger Joint is a walk-up counter restaurant at the back of the pool area on the Lido Deck. My husband is a huge Guy's Burger fan, so that is always our first meal on embarkation day. Judging from the lines, the majority of Sunshine cruisers had the same idea. Lines moved pretty quickly, though. Even my special-order veggie burger took under five minutes to make (though it was my least favorite dish on the ship).

My husband ordered the "Straight Up" burger with all the fixings, and it was almost on par with others he's eaten on previous cruises.

His take: "This was the 'least good' Guy's burger I've had, and it was still delicious." His second Guy's burger on our third day of the cruise was even tastier.

Also on the Lido Deck, BlueIguana Cantina serves freshly made burritos, tacos and bowls. It's one of my favorite casual dining spots, and I would put the veggie burrito up against Chipotle any day of the week.

The Lido Marketplace is the ship's popular buffet restaurant, offering a variety of culinary options from early morning through late night. Breakfast offerings included scrambled or boiled eggs, beans, potatoes, varied pastries, fresh fruit, and hot or cold cereal. There were also two omelet stations in the Havana Bar area, located just off the Lido Marketplace. (The Havana Bar serves craft Cuban-style daiquiris, mojitos and Cuban coffee drinks.)

Lunch consisted of made-to-order deli sandwiches and pizza, as well as international dishes, hot sides and a salad station.

Carnival Sunshine features five added-fee restaurants — JiJi Asian Kitchen, Bonsai Sushi, Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse, Cucina del Capitano and the Chef's Table — for cruisers looking for a special meal. Hot tip: If you pre-book your specialty dinner for the first night of your cruise, you'll score a free bottle of wine. You can choose between a chardonnay and merlot, and can either drink it with your meal or enjoy it in your cabin later. It's a nice way to kick off the cruise.

We booked a table at Jiji's for our first evening on board. The pan-Asian menu features dishes from Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, China and Mongolia served family style. I ordered the shrimp dumplings, sweet and sour shrimp, and the Chinese broccoli. My husband had the chicken rolls and the peppered beef. We closed out our dinner with the rose creme brulee with ginger cream and caramelized crepes served with citrus ice cream.

Every dish was delicious. The pacing of our meal was perfect, and we didn't feel rushed through the courses. Service was attentive without being intrusive. The cost is $24 (per person) for adults and $6 (per person) for kids aged 11 and under — a great price for a fantastic meal.

Open for lunch and dinner, the Bonsai Sushi outpost on Sunshine is smaller than those on newer ships. With reasonably priced items like $5 and $7 rolls, and $2 for soup or salad, it's easy to curb your sushi craving on the cheap.

Other specialty dining options include the line's signature Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse (one of TPG's favorite cruise ship specialty restaurants ) and La Cucina del Capitano for an authentic family-style Italian meal. During lunch, La Cucina del Capitano offers a free pasta bar. Passengers can also book the Chef's Table experience, an intimate multicourse meal hosted by the executive chef.

A fun meal for families is the Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast ($10 per adult and $8 per child aged 14 and under). Held in the main dining room, it kicks off with the lively Seuss-a-palooza Parade led by The Cat in the Hat, Thing 1 and Thing 2. You get to nosh on "green eggs and ham," pancakes, French toast, "Moose Juice" and other whimsical dishes inspired by Seuss' books. The characters stick around for meet-and-greets and photo ops.

After boarding, we checked out the RedFrog Pub on Deck 5. It was far enough away from embarkation day chaos but busy enough for entertaining people-watching. The bar was out of fresh mint, so I couldn't sample the Ving Mojito, so I sipped a tasty margarita instead.

A fun component of this bar is the screens above the bar that carousel through photos the bartenders have taken of RedFrog Pub patrons. The Pub didn't seem to be the hub for activities as I've seen on other vessels, probably because karaoke, live music and trivia games were held just outside the door in the Ocean Plaza.

The Alchemy Bar is a cocktail bar designed to resemble an apothecary, offering "elixirs" and "remedies." It's one of the venues I look forward to the most when cruising with Carnival.

Full disclosure: I've been smitten with this watering hole since I tasted my first Cucumber Sunrise aboard Carnival Conquest in 2013. Maybe it's because it was my first foray into herbal-based craft cocktails or because the bartenders are consistently fun and engaging. Either way, few things can beat a refreshing, restorative basil drop served by some of the best bartenders in the cruising industry.

Want to try something off the menu? No problem. After determining my preferred spirits and flavors, the bartenders always come up with something fantastic. I'm a gin and lavender fan, and our bartender, Tatiana, created an amazing cocktail with gin, lavender, St. Germain, elderflower and lime juice.

The Alchemy Bar on Carnival Sunshine is situated just off the popular Ocean Plaza area, the place to be for trivia games, karaoke and live music.

The Havana Bar is the place to head for top-notch mojitos. The small buffet area by the bar often features Latin-inspired bites like empanadas and Cuban sandwiches. Since it's located just beyond the main pool on Deck 9 and beside the Lido Marketplace buffet area, I found it to be an ideal spot to retreat to when buffet area seating was limited.

Poolside RedFrog Rum Bar and BlueIguana Tequila Bar were both a hub of activity most days. And if you're lounging by the pool, you can expect servers to come by often and take drink orders. Other popular spots for some spirits include the Serenity Bar by the adults-only sun deck, SkyBox Sports Bar (where multiple TVs behind the bar broadcast various games), the Piano Bar (with nightly singalongs), the Atrium Bar and the Sunshine Casino.

We also visited the Piano Bar twice during our short cruise. The pianist/singer was top-notch and had a great rapport with the guests. The only thing that tainted our experience was that both times we visited, a family with younger kids monopolized the show with requests. The Carnival website lists the Piano Bar as a 21-plus venue, but no one challenged the family.

Carnival Sunshine activities

When the weather cooperated, most passengers gravitated to the upper decks for fun in the sun and water. In addition to the one main pool and two hot tubs on Deck 9, Sunshine is home to Carnival's WaterWorks water park with waterslides and a kiddie splash zone. A bevy of diversions at the nearby SportSquare included a ropes course, minigolf, ping-pong and foosball.

The ship's quieter adults-only Serenity Deck area was midship on decks 11 and 12 and overlooked the main pool area. Passengers 21-plus could take advantage of a plunge pool with a waterfall, a hot tub, a bar, and loungers and cabanas.

Energetic cruisers who can't veg in the sun all day can find limitless activities indoors to occupy their sea days. Free events included trivia games, Bingo, spa pampering parties, karaoke, and ice carving or towel animal folding demonstrations. For-fee activities like Build-A-Bear Workshop and $5,000 Jackpot Bingo also drew a crowd.

Shopping opportunities were decent. You have the Fun Shops for Carnival-branded items, souvenirs, jewelry, liquor and fragrances. For a sugary splurge, Cherry On Top sells an extensive selection of sweet treats.

The Sunshine Casino on Deck 5 midship was popular with passengers on my sailing. Every time I walked through, it was buzzing with activity (although, as previously mentioned, I didn't spend a lot of time there). The venue is a maze of slot machines, with a collection of poker tables, a craps table, two roulette tables and several blackjack tables. Throughout our cruise, the casino hosted organized poker tournaments, raffles and other ways to test Lady Luck.

Karaoke events were held in the Ocean Plaza area in between the Alchemy Bar and RedFrog Pub. The openness of the space provided optimum participation from passengers and performers, so a lively crowd was always on hand to sing along.

Families can take advantage of included-in-your-fare childcare in Carnival's Camp Ocean facilities on 10. The youngest cruisers can participate in supervised activities, divided into age-based groups: Penguins (2 to 5 years), Stingrays (6 to 8 years) and Sharks (9 to 11 years).

The designated areas for each age group were spacious and offered plenty of seating. Though they had separate entrances, the spaces were close enough that pick-up and drop-off would be easy for families with kids checked into different areas.

Tweens and teens have their own hangouts and activity schedules. Circle C is for cruisers ages 12 to 14, with events like dance parties, outdoor movies and group games. The Circle C space had a futuristic vibe with metal walls and a minimalist design.

Club O2 is for the 15-to-17 set and offers a chance for older teens to hang out together, play sports and games, and interact during group activities. The modern atmosphere extended to Club 02 with a bold red and black pattern on the floor, sleek red chairs and metal accents.

During this sailing, many families seemed to hang out together during the day — spending time at the pool, watching karaoke and participating in other activities.

Carnival's Cloud 9 Spa on Deck 10 is the place to go for vacation pampering. Various treatments and therapies are available — from deep tissue and stone massages to acupuncture and other traditional Chinese techniques. Additionally, the spa offers hair and nail services, facials and medispa treatments.

You can also buy Thermal Suite passes for a day or the entire length of your cruise. You'll have access to the heated tile loungers, rain showers, an aroma steam room and a sauna.

The fitness center was well stocked with just about every piece of equipment you need to keep your workout routine while you cruise. It's free to use, but you can pay extra for instructor-led classes like Pilates, yoga or indoor cycling. If you like fresh air with your morning walk or run, head to the top deck and hit the jogging track.

Unlike newer Carnival ships with a full promenade that provides access to restaurants and bars, Sunshine has the more traditional promenade with shuffleboard and some outdoor seating. Come for a walk or take in the sunset.

Carnival Sunshine shows

We sailed through a storm for a couple of days, and both the "Welcome Aboard Show" and the Playlist Productions "Epic Rock" show were altered because of it. Instead of a full-on production, we got two short sets from each comedian (for the welcome show) and performers singing from stools on stage ("Epic Rock").

It was a bummer to miss a "true" Carnival production. I've cruised with Carnival several times, and I'm always impressed with the caliber of talent. The shows are one of my favorite parts of cruising with Carnival. I've enjoyed Latin-themed performances ("Amor Cubano"), British music tributes ("The Brits") and an art-infused journey through music and dance ("Color My World").

We took in a comedy show at the Punchliner Comedy Club (in the Limelight Lounge on Deck 4) and enjoyed it. I'm a hard nut to crack, and the comedian got me laughing out loud more than once. My husband guffawed throughout the set. Each sailing typically includes a family-friendly "PG" show at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The 18-plus shows take place at 8:45 p.m. and 10 p.m. Most cruises have one or two comedians on board.

Carnival Sunshine itineraries and pricing

Throughout 2024, Carnival Sunshine will sail year-round four-, five-, six- and eight-night Bahamas and Eastern Caribbean voyages from Charleston. Depending on the itinerary, stops might include Nassau, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, San Juan and the cruise line's private island, Half Moon Cay.

At the time of publication, prices started from $374 per person for a four-night Bahamas sailing in an inside cabin (excluding taxes and fees).

As previously mentioned, beginning in 2025, the vessel will move to its new home port of Norfolk, Virginia. From there, it will offer six-night Bahamas and Bermuda sailings, as well as eight-night Eastern Caribbean itineraries.

At press time, prices started at $519 per person for an inside cabin on a six-night Bahamas cruise (excluding taxes and fees).

What to know before you go

Required documents.

If you're a U.S. citizen on a cruise that begins and ends in a U.S. port, you must have a current passport or an official copy of your birth certificate and a driver's license or other government-issued photo identification to sail. A passport card is also acceptable.

Your passport must be valid for at least six more months.

Important note: The name on your reservation must be exactly as it is stated on your passport or other official proof of nationality. We recommend you check Carnival's website before you sail for the most recent updates on requirements.

Carnival adds an automatic service gratuity of $14.50 to $16.50 per person, per day to final bills, depending on the cabin category. Children under the age of 2 are exempt.

You can adjust the amount at the Guest Services desk before disembarking if you are not satisfied with the service you received. Additionally, an 18% gratuity is added to bar bills and the cover charge of the Chef's Table.

Over the last couple of years, Carnival has rolled out faster Wi-Fi systems across its fleet, so you can now stream video on some ships. Pricing changes over time, but the fastest "premium" service on Carnival Sunshine was recently priced at $18.70 per person, per day.

Other packages available for a Sunshine sailing include the less expensive "social" plan that only allows access to key social networking sites (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) and messaging services such as WhatsApp for $12.75 a day. A slightly more expensive "value" plan, at $17 per day, adds access to email and most websites. If you pay for a plan prior to sailing, you'll receive a discount.

Carry-on drinks policy

You can bring one bottle of wine or Champagne (per person) onto the ship at boarding, as well as up to a dozen standard cans or cartons of nonalcoholic drinks such as sodas.

Nonalcoholic drinks in glass or plastic bottles are not allowed. If you want to bring the wine or Champagne to an onboard restaurant or bar to drink, you'll incur a $15 corkage fee. Drinks brought on board must be carried in your carry-on luggage.

Smoking policy

On Carnival Sunshine, smoking (including electronic cigarettes) is only allowed in designated outdoor areas and in the casino. Smoking is forbidden in cabins and on cabin balconies.

While cigarette smoking is allowed in the casino, according to Carnival's website, you must be seated and playing to smoke in the casino. Smoking is permitted in designated areas on Deck 3 (port side, forward) and Deck 10 (starboard side, midship).

Self-service launderettes are on decks 1, 2, 6, 7, 8 and 9 (midship) on Carnival Sunshine. Each launderette has washing machines, dryers, irons and ironing boards. There's a $3.25-per-load charge to use a washer or dryer. The laundrettes also have vending machines stocked with small boxes of detergent and fabric softener at $1.50 per box.

You can also opt for extra-charge valet laundry and dry-cleaning service, which your cabin steward will handle for you. Expect to pay per piece, with prices running from $2 (for an undergarment or pair of socks) to $15 (for a two-piece suit).

Electrical outlets

As mentioned previously, Carnival Sunshine cabins have both standard North American-style 110-volt outlets and European-style 220-volt outlets. Bring a power strip if you need more than that.

The currency used on Carnival Sunshine is the U.S. dollar. However, the ship operates on a "cashless system," so any onboard purchases you make will automatically post to your onboard account. You'll receive a Sail & Sign card that you can use to make charges. This same card also gets you into your cabin.

Drinking age

Passengers must be 21 to drink alcohol on Carnival Sunshine.

There is no specific dress code during the day on Sunshine, so people dress casually. Beach attire is the norm for sea days, and if you plan to spend your day on the top deck, plan to dress in T-shirts, shorts and bathing suits (with a cover-up to go inside).

Although there's an official dress code for the evenings, it's pretty laid-back. Most nights are designated "cruise casual," which includes khakis or jeans, polo shirts and sundresses. Super casual clothing like cutoff jeans, men's sleeveless shirts, T-shirts and gym shorts aren't permitted.

Depending on the length of your cruise, one or two nights of the itinerary will include a "cruise elegant" night where the suggested attire for men is dress slacks and a dress shirt; sports coats and suits are optional. The suggested attire for women on such nights is cocktail dresses, pantsuits, elegant skirts and blouses. If you don't want to dress up, you can choose a more casual dinner venue, but dress code enforcement in Carnival dining rooms tends to be lax.

Bottom line

Whether you're looking for an affordable Caribbean cruise for the whole family or want to escape with your besties, Carnival Sunshine is a solid bet if having a fun time is a priority.

It's not a shiny, new vessel, so don't expect flawless cabins and the latest attractions. What you can expect, though, is to have nonstop fun thanks to a variety of diversions and an enthusiastic group of like-minded shipmates.

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Carnival Sunshine Deck Plans & Reviews

Carnival Sunshine

Activities & entertainment

• Art Auction *
• Cloud 9 Fitness Center
• Cloud 9 Salon *
• Cloud 9 Spa *
• Dance Classes
• Deck Parties
• Sunshine Casino *
• Lip Sync Battle
• Evening Kids Programs *
• Fitness Classes *
• Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast *
• Groove For St Jude *
• Whirlpools (3)
• Ice Carving Demonstrations
• Photo Portraits *
• Seuss_A_Palooza Parade and Storytime
• Retail Shops *
• Spa Parties *
• SportSquare
• The Warehouse Video Arcade *
• Thermal Suites *
• White Party
• Wine Tasting *
• Waterslides (2)
• Circle C _ Tweens Club
• Camp Ocean _ Kids Club
• Club O2 _ Teens Club
• Serenity _ Adults_Only
• Carnival Seaside Theater
• Comedy Shows
• Limelight Lounge
• Liquid Lounge
• Live Nightly Music
• Outdoor Movies
• Sunrise Dining Room - Main
• Sunset Dining Room - Main
• JiJi Asian Kitchen - Asian *
• Cherry On Top - Candies *
• Sunshine Casino Bar - Casino Bar *
• Lido Marketplace - Buffet
• JavaBlue Cafe - Coffee & Pastries *
• Havana Bar - Cuban-Themed Bar *
• Guys Burger Joint - Pool Grill
• Cucina del Capitano - Italian *
• Bonsai Sushi - Sushi *
• Taste Bar - Light Bites
• Alchemy Bar - Cocktail Bar *
• BlueIguana Cantina - Mexican
• Shake Spot - Milkshakes *
• Piano Bar 88 - Piano Bar *
• RedFrog Rum Bar - Pool Bar *
• BlueIguana Tequila Bar - Pool Bar *
• RedFrog Pub - Pub *
• The Library Bar - Quiet Bar *
• SkyBox Sports Bar - Sports Bar *
• Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse - Steakhouse *
• Room Service *
• Excellent 51
• Very Good 41
• Terrible 17
• All languages ( 155 )
• English ( 154 )
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• Cruises for Families

Is a Carnival Sunshine Cruise Right for Your Next Family Vacation?

Jan 26, 2016

See recent posts by Jeff Bogle

Considering a cruise on the Carnival Sunshine ? We’ve personally sailed on this popular cruise ship and can tell you everything you need to know before you book, from which Carnival Sunshine staterooms are best to which specialty restaurants are worth the extra splurge.

Carnival Sunshine Renovations

If you previously cruised on the Carnival Destiny and are now climbing aboard the Sunshine, you may feel a slightly disorienting sense of coming home.

This is because in 2013, the former became the latter after a $155-million-dollar extreme makeover. The Sunshine was born anew after a refresh of the dining options, kids’ camp, spa, guestrooms and so much more.

In 2018, Carnival Sunshine went under the knife again, this time for a quick refresh that brought even more modernity and amenities to Carnival cruise passengers.

Carnival Sunshine Location

Where is Carnival Sunshine, you ask? Carnival Sunshine’s home address is the port of Charleston, South Carolina .

Carnival Sunshine Staterooms

All Carnival Sunshine staterooms offer the following:

• Amenities:  All Carnival Sunshine rooms make efficient use of space, and each one is furnished with a flat-screen TV (mounted up high with a swivel function), a phone, safe, and a pair of bathrobes.
• Housekeeping:  Twice daily housekeeping service means you’ll always have fresh, clean towels and well-made beds. Your steward will keep you stocked with ice and take care of any other wishes you may have. Be sure to have a conversation upon checking in and you’ll be in good hands for the duration of your cruise. The housekeeping button on your stateroom phone rings your steward’s cellphone directly so service is prompt and courteous.
• Turndown Service:  Turndown service at night includes the famous Carnival towel animals (keep an eye out for a precocious monkey hanging from the ceiling), sweets and a copy of the Fun Times newsletter outlining the next day’s activities, performances and more.

Carnival Sunshine Interior Staterooms Windowless rooms may seem uncomfortable on paper, but when cruising, you tend to spend so little time in your cabin that it may not be an issue for you (especially when you factor in the greatly reduced cost of interior rooms). Know that inside cabins are on the smaller side, with either two twin beds oriented longways or side-by-side to convert into a one king bed. Interior rooms have closets, drawers and a private bathroom with a shower. They’re suitable for couples, but probably not for entire families. Connecting interior rooms are available for the most affordable family cruising option on the Sunshine, however.

Carnival Sunshine Ocean View Staterooms Ocean View rooms are almost identical to Interior rooms, but offer a small picture window or portholes to gaze out upon the ocean or watch as the ship approaches dock. These rooms include two twin beds that can convert to a king bed, a sofa that converts to an additional bed, three closets, ample drawers and shelves, and a small bathroom with a shower.

Pro Tip: If you really want to be fancy on board the Sunshine but not pay balcony or suite prices, check out the Scenic Ocean View cabin with a floor-to-ceiling window looking out upon the sea. It’s stunning.

Carnival Sunshine Balcony Staterooms These luxurious staterooms feature two twin beds that convert to a king bed, a bathroom with a shower and vanity area with a large mirror, and a sofa with a coffee table. The balconies have two chairs and a small table, and a childproof, high glass railing. Of course, you’ll want to supervise to make sure no one stands on the chairs or table!

As you’d expect, rooms with a balcony are more expensive than Interior and standard Ocean View rooms, but they’re worth the cost when traveling as a family because chances are, you might have a little one that needs a nap or falls asleep too early, causing you to cancel dinner plans. In a balcony room, there’s space for a big room service tray of food and ample elbowroom to enjoy it all.

Balconies come in slightly different sizes (standard, extended and premium), and some feature an ocean view, while others offer an obstructed view. There are different classes of balcony suites, with more space available if needed and a Cloud 9 Spa version with alternate decor (sea foam green instead of the Sunshine’s standard beige and blue).

Pro Tip:   Look for a quad balcony room with a pull-down murphy trundle bed to sleep a total of 4 comfortably for a weeklong cruise.

Balcony rooms feature two 120-volt outlets and one 230-volt to charge your devices, located on the shelf near the phone next to the closets. Hidden beneath is a comfy ottoman.

Carnival Sunshine Suites Suites on the Sunshine come in three varieties: Grand, Ocean and Cloud 9 Spa. Each is similar, with large balconies and enough space to have a small family dance party (something you certainly aren’t doing in any other stateroom category). In each suite, two twin beds convert to a king bed. Suites feature full bathrooms with showers, with whirlpool tubs in the Ocean and Cloud 9 Spa version. Suites have double sinks, as well as sofas, armchairs, coffee tables, walk-in dressing areas, vanity tables and two closets.

Carnival Sunshine Activities

Make It With Michaels Michaels Stores (yes, the same Michaels Stores you know and love on land) offers free arts and crafts to guests of the Carnival Sunshine. Projects range from DIY bracelets to photo frames, providing cruisers with unique, handmade souvenirs to take home.

Zumbini Free, 30-minute Zumbini classes are a great way to let your toddlers burn off that excess energy during your Carnival Sunshine family vacation. On cruises of six days or longer, parent-child guided classes are offered at no additional charge.

Build-a-Bear Workshop at Sea For an extra charge, kids (and kids at heart) can bring new stuffed animals to life at the Build-a-Bear Workshop. The best part? The proceeds benefit the kids of the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital!

Musical Performances Whether you prefer the sounds of Motown, a stellar vintage pop show with familiar tunes from past and present, spicy Latin dancing, movie music performed in a mesmerizing way, or an extravagant night of epic 80’s rock, the musical performances offered in the Carnival Sunshine Liquid Lounge are not to be missed. You’ll be transported back to your favorite time and place thanks to an invigorating mix of singing, dancing and hi-tech stage design.

Lip Sync Battle: Carnival One of the most mesmerizing shows at sea , Lip Sync Battle is available for Sunshine guests to participate in or watch as a pair of their fellow passengers compete to see who can pretend to sing (but really dance) best! The event takes place at the end of the cruise.

Camp Carnival Located on the top deck of the rear of the ship, the kids’ camp on the Sunshine provides children ages 2 to 11 with full days and nights of dance parties, video games, crafts and the opportunity to make new friends during their vacation at sea. All camp activities and dinners are free. Camp Carnival’s Night Owl program aboard the Carnival Sunshine gives kids the chance to stay up way past their usual bedtime for movies, dancing and more fun for a small fee ($6.75 per child, per hour, plus gratuities) while mom and dad enjoy grown-up activities at their leisure. Got a sleepy kiddo? Night Owls has a separate area away from the buzz for kids to drift off to dreamland.

Also located in the Camp Carnival area is Circle C, a youth program for kids ages 12 to 14, and Club 02, the onboard destination for older teens (15 to 17) to hang out and chill.

Pool and Hot Tubs There’s one small, chilly pool in mid-ship and a pair of oft-crowded hot tubs, as well. But kids will probably have a much better time getting soaking wet in the splash zone and zipping down the three slides in the WaterWorks Water Park.

WaterWorks Water Park Kids will love this water that dominates the profile view of the Carnival Sunshine. Go it solo on the 334 foot long Twister or have a race on the epic 235 feet long Speedway Splash side-by-side slides. Little ones will enjoy going down the purple Mini Racers slides again and again, as well as getting soaked in the SplashZone.

SportSquare From a basketball court to shuffleboard and billiards to Ping-Pong, this active area has something for everyone on board the Sunshine, including a .1 mile track to get in an early morning run before the ship fully wakes up (only 31 laps for an at-sea 5K)!

Sky Course Test your fear of heights and your physical limits on this ropes course high above the SportSquare. When you get a calm window of time to try the Sky Course, take advantage of it as this activity will close when the winds are too strong at sea.

Mini-Golf This challenging 9-hole put-put course is at the very top of the Sunshine, encircling the iconic red, white and blue funnel. Colorful golf balls, putters for all sizes of golfers, and score cards are available on either side of the deck.

Hasbro, The Game Show Happening on one evening each cruise, this hilarious live game show takes place in the Liquid Lounge and features full-size versions of Connect Four (played as basketball) and Simon Flash! , while Monopoly plays an important and fun part of the show as well. Answer trivia questions for a chance to be on stage!

Seuss at Sea Young book lovers will go crazy for the Dr. Seuss character parade leaving from the Ocean Plaza and culminating with an on-stage interactive Cat In The Hat story time, led by your fabulous cruise director. Also available during your cruise are two seatings of a fantastically colorful Green Eggs & Ham Breakfast (for an additional fee of $5 per person).

The Punchliner Comedy Club Early evening laughs are available every night for all-ages in the Limelight Lounge. Take your kids to their first stand-up comedy show while at sea on the Carnival Sunshine. The club is intimate and the queue starts to form as early as 30 minutes before showtime, so get there early for the best seats in the house.

Dive-In Movies Nightly movies play on the 270-square-foot screen at mid-ship, so grab a lounge chair, a spot in a hot tub or a stool at the bar and enjoy cinema under the stars. If you don’t want to watch the movie from an angle along the side of the ship, stake your claim to a lounge chair (or hot tub seat) in the center of the ship at least 30 minutes before the opening credits begin to roll.

Video Arcade This classic 24-hour den of beeps, bells and whistles will entertain kids of nearly any age. Whether Skee-Ball is your game or you prefer the nimble attacking challenge of Kung-Fu Panda, there’s an opportunity to collect digital ‘tickets’ to earn prizes like keychains, trinkets or brand new electronic devices (if you plan on spending a lot of time and money in the arcade).

Carnival Sunshine Restaurants

Room Service Whether you crave breakfast in bed, a turkey club sandwich, a hot cup of tea, plates of chips and pretzels, or a piece of chocolate cake, Carnival Sunshine room service awaits your call, morning, noon, and night. Salads, sandwiches and sweets are available complimentary during the day, with special hot options available for an extra fee. Room service remains available at night, but fees apply after 10 p.m.

Carnival Sunshine Quick Bites

Technically still a part of the lido marketplace, the sunshine has two “poolside” dining hot spots for quick and delicious eats:.

• Guy’s Burger Joint: Guy’s Burger Joint serves up over 1,000 burgers a day and lets hungry cruisers load ’em up with bacon, caramelized onions, pickles, lettuce, tomatoes, BBQ sauce, ranch dressing and more at the toppings bar.
• Blue Iguana Cantina: On the other side of the pool towel shack is BlueIguana Cantina, your onboard destination for burritos, tacos and other Mexican delights (at lunch and also during breakfast—huevos rancheros, anyone?).

Havana Bar Still hungry? The Havana Bar offers tasty Latin-inspired finger food at lunchtime, like Cubano sandwiches and fresh pork empanadas.

Carnival Deli The Carnival Deli” Added during the brief 2018 dry dock refurb, The Carnival Deli plates up classic sandwiches like pastrami on rye, grilled Reubens and roast turkey on crunchy country rolls with sides of pickles and slaw.

Bonsai Sushi For a quieter quick-dining experience, look to Bonsai Sushi on deck 4 across from the steakhouse. The small room is awash in bamboo green and high-top tables, giving it a hip lounge vibe.

Carnival Sunshine Specialty Restaurants

As high class as any place you’d visit on land, the three specialty restaurants on the Carnival Sunshine, well, shine!

Cucina Del Capitano If you want some of the fine Italian cuisine, there’s Cucina Del Capitano. Rates are $15 per adult , $5 for kids 11 and under, and free for allduring a design-your-own-pasta bar lunch.

Ji Ji Asian Kitchen If you’d prefer a Far East meal to swoon over, make a reservation at Ji Ji Asian Kitchen. Rates are $15 per adultand $5 for kids 11 and under.

Fahrenheit 55 Fahrenheit 555 ($38 per adult, $12 for kids 11 and under) is as top notch a steakhouse as you’d find in Chicago or in midtown Manhattan (with an Award of Excellence wine list according to Wine Spectator ). The creamy béarnaise sauce and succulent steamed lobster make for an extremely satisfying surf and turf experience.

The Chef’s Table For a once-in-a-lifetime dining experience at sea, book The Chef’s Table. This multicourse dinner is hosted by the Master Executive Chef, starts with cocktails and hors d ’ oeuvres, moves on to feature appetizers, entrees and desserts not on the regular menu, and includes a tour of the kitchen while in operation at the peak of dinner service! The Chef’s Table is priced like an excursion on land, and will deliver as many memories for you and your family.

Carnival Sunshine Extras

Gratuities Instead of tipping your servers, bartenders and stateroom steward, Carnival Sunshine charges a one-time gratuity of $13.99 per person, per day for standard staterooms, and $15.99 per person, per day if booked in a suite. Note: Gratuities are not charged on children under 2.

Gratuities can be paid in advance, or they will be charged to your Sail & Sign account. Be sure to bring some small bills, too, to tip individual crew who go above and beyond to make your cruise extra special, including your stateroom steward.

I nternet Access It’s not as swift as your home Wi-Fi network, but if you need to work a bit, check email, post to Instagram, and send photos back to loved ones, Carnival’s onboard Internet access will suffice. Just don’t expect to stream Netflix or download new music while on the Sunshine. Social Wi-Fi internet plans start at $6.80 per day for access to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, WhatsApp, Snapchat and other social media platforms. If you need full web access, the value plan will set you back $10.20 per day, while premium internet runs faster for $14.45 a day. All Wi-Fi plans are 15 percent cheaper when booked prior to the day of embarkation.

Carnival Hub App The innovative Carnival Hub app allows families to communicate with each other through a closed messaging app (for a fee), and navigate the ship, menus, and entertainment schedules long before the daily Fun Times newsletter arrives.

Jeff Bogle lives in the suburbs of Philadelphia with his wife, two daughters, and three cats. He is an award-winning photographer and respected travel journalist with bylines on Reader’s Digest, Good Housekeeping, PBS, Esquire and more. Jeff (probably) spends too much time in England watching football and far too many hours plotting his family’s future travel adventures. Find Jeff on his own site, Out With the Kids . 

What to Pack for Your Next Trip

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• Carnival Cruise Lines

Carnival sunshine share your pros/cons

By fungirl76 , January 9, 2017 in Carnival Cruise Lines

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Will be sailing on her in November, looking for tips, tricks and the pros and cons.

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I loved her! Great ship and we had an amazing time. The biggest issue we had was the comedy club. Expect to go the 2nd or last night or get in line EARLY! It's a small room and not many people fit.

Also, YTD dining. Showing up at 6:30-7:30 will probably earn you a wait on most nights...especially elegant night.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

On Lido deck head back to the Havana Bar to eat your lunch always plenty of space back there. If you expect lines anywhere just get there early. Try Cucina Del Capitan and Ji Ji's both were worth the extra cost. IMO. If you want the serenity deck get out early to grab a nice spot by the pool.

Spend some time at Serenity - it's wonderful. The comedy show - get in line early to get a good seat or else watch the comedian on a tv screen. Havana bar at rear of Lido offers a minimal amount of food for breakfast and lunch. Havana bars Cuban sandwiches at lunch are very good. Did not try JiJi but Cucina Del Capitano was very good (and free) for lunch. The taste bar area put out a nice spread of food for lunch. I only happened to come across it on a rainy sea day. Not all cabins come with a refrigerator. If you want one, do your homework before hand.

Micahs Grandad

No fridges, small main lounge and comedy club has me avoiding the Sunshine.

Lots of other ships that are a better match for us

Love the Havana Bar and the 2.0 upgrades.

Loved, loved, loved JiJi.

It was always very clean to me.

Didn't love the spa bcuz it's missing the T-pool.

Did seem a little crowded, but it was the amount of kids that got me lol I've never been on a cruise with so many kids and I sail the same time of year every year.

The pizza wasn't as good to me and I usually love Carnivals pizza.

Comedy lounge is tiny, we didn't bother attempting to see a show.

No aft adult pool-pools & serenity were packed, lots of chogs.

Not complaining bcuz I enjoyed my cruise and will be sailing the sunshine again in August.

krismas_tina

Pros: Nice Serenity area with a pool, JiJi, Alchemy Bar, Havana Bar

Cons: Main showroom doubles as the nightclub so it's smaller and the seating is not great, overall felt more crowded than other ships we've been on.

Overall, we enjoyed our cruise on the Sunshine!

I need to be careful with my sun exposure and sometimes struggle to find shady outside seating. However on Sunshine, there is lots of underused and very quiet outside seating down both sides of deck 4!

Will we be able to see the Pittsburgh Steeler versus Kansas City playoffs this coming Sunday on Carnival Sunshine Caribbean cruise?

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MarcelLucSell

If you have Cheers, try the Steakhouse Bar off to the left for drinks or wine, even when not dining there. Try the sushi place and order sake. Visit the forward decks for good views and you'll probably be the only ones out there. Get to the evening shows early. The chairs upfront to the stage right or left have handy drinks tables for them. We would finish most nights at the piano bar. We had a lively piano man.

Loved the Sunshine. It was a great ship. Our only real complaint was that the Guy's Burgers and Blue Iguana taco place retrofits made the walkway between the pool and buffet really narrow. It works on the bigger ships like the Breeze but was a few feet too narrow on the Sunshine. It's a minor complaint.

The Sunshine is my second favorite Carnival ship that I've been on after the Breeze. If nothing else there's an Alchemy bar on the Sunshine and not the Breeze..

braves_cruiser1

On what deck can you access the forward deck on the Sushine? We spent a lot of time on the forward deck on the Valor, and it was quite peaceful.

Will we be able to see the Pittsburgh Steeler versus Kansas City playoffs this coming Sunday on Carnival Sunshine Caribbean cruise?     Sent from my iPad using Forums

Most likely. There's a sports bar on the ship. Get there early to get a seat. My husband watched a game when we sailed the Sunshine in October.

There is a Sports Bar just off the Casino. It was always busy so you would definitely want to get there early for the Super Bowl.

On what deck can you access the forward deck on the Sunshine? We spent a lot of time on the forward deck on the Valor, and it was quite peaceful.

We were on two of the decks, and were the only ones out there.

There was an outer staircase that connected the decks we visited.

I did a quick Google search and it came back Decks 5, 6, 7, & 9.

We were on the Sunshine over Christmas. Loved the cruise director but he is going to the Dream. Only thing I didn't like was the layout was challenging. Sometimes you would have to go up a floor, walk to the other end of the ship and then go down a floor to get where you were going. I was also disappointed in the thermal suite. Other than that we loved it. You can use Cheers to get milkshakes, coffee, hot chocolate, floats at Java Blue and with or without alcohol added. We thought the crew was extremely friendly. Our cabin steward was awesome. Alchemy Bar had some really good drinks. Enjoyed the Behind the Fun tour also.

It should be playing in the sports bar. You *might* get lucky for it to play on the lido

• 3 weeks later...

What places are open for lunch? Does JiJi's have a Mongolian grill type lunch? Thanks!

Yes, at lunch Jiji's is the traditional Carnival Mongolian Wok. Also the Italian place is a pasta bar at lunch. You select your pasta, sauce, veggies and proteins and they cook to order. Very good. You also have the buffet for lunch as well as Guy's Burger Joint and Blue Iguana Cantina. Bonsai Sushi is also open. On sea days you can do brunch in the dining room till 1:00 so that would also be a lunch option. One of our favorite things about Sunshine is the variety of food options.

What didn't you like about the Thermal Suite? I purchased the Couples Spa Pass for our upcoming cruise and don't want to waste my $$$.

I loved the Sunshine! The only thing I will do different if I sail on her again is not stay on deck 11 or 12. We had a spa balcony on deck 12, and there are only two elevators that get to those decks, and they were very slow.

I've had knee surgery, and still have a problem going up & down stairs, so I had long waits getting to & from my room. Other than that, all was good!

A&Jfamily

If u are an early riser by 7 am you can find Cuban breakfast pastries on the side of the Havana bar. Delicious little bites of you are holding out for brunch in the MDR later in the morning.

Sunshine has best selection of food - sushi bar is delicious.

She is our fav ship. Love to sit at Alchemy and people watch

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Things I liked best: 1) guys burger; 2) Havana bar - try the Cuban coffee and espresso martini with vodka and baileys, both outstanding! Havana bar area not nearly as crowded as rest of lido, easy to get a table. Entertainment at night. 3) alchemy bar of course, and the area outside of it has a small breakfast and lunch buffet with plenty of tables. Lots of room to sit and read, people watch. 4) show room is smaller, we always go to top of venue and sit up there, plenty of good seats. Comedy room small but still a lot of seats, don't be discouraged. 5) great steam room and sauna with views of the ocean, often empty. Highly recommend booking spa services on line prior to cruise, less expensive. Loved the fire and ice manicure! 6) ropes course! Lots of fun, very scary but glad I did it. Enjoy your cruise!

Sunshine is one of our fave CCL ships, as well. We love the Serenity decks, the 2.0 upgrades, the Havana Bar. Terrific variety of food options. The flaws folks have mentioned are very real... but in a strange way, something I enjoy. She's a little quirky / less cookie cutter than the rest of the fleet. Well....except for the Comedy Club. That really is something they need to fix.

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Sick crewmember airlifted from Carnival Sunshine

JACKSONVILLE, S.C. (WCBD) – A crewmember was airlifted from a Charleston-based cruise ship over the weekend.

The United States Coast Guard (USGC) said a helicopter crew from its air station in Clearwater, Florida responded to the Carnival Sunshine on Sunday about 160 miles east of Jacksonville.

Officials said a sick crewmember, 35, was airlifted along with the ship’s nurse and taken to a hospital in Florida.

Carnival Sunshine has called Charleston its home port for years.

News 2 reached out to Carnival Cruise Line for more information. We are waiting to hear back.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2.

Read Expert & Member Reviews of Carnival Sunshine